Published 12:59 pm, Tuesday, December 3, 2013

A Dallas developer will have to wait at least one month to see if the City of Alamo Heights Planning and Zoning Commission will recommend granting variances needed for a multi-story, mixed-use complex proposed for the city's center.

The commission voted Monday to wait until its regular meeting Jan. 6 to consider Alamo Manhattan's request for a special use permit.

At Monday night's meeting, the developers told the commission they now envision the $30 million Alamo Heights Gateway project, eyed for Broadway and Austin Highway, at a maximum of 55 feet in height with 165 high-end residential, rental units.

This represents a reduction in the structure's size, which previously was to be a six-story, 210-unit complex.

The developers, working with local architectural firm Overland Partners, also reduced planned underground parking garage levels from three to two, and retail space from 5,000 square feet to 3,000 square feet.

A bit of adjacent green space would be preserved.

The developers said their newest plan reflects their best effort to follow the city's comprehensive plan and to help boost the Broadway business corridor.

“We've listened (to residents) and we're trying to create what we think is something that would be great for the community,” said Alamo Manhattan President Matt Segrest. “We also have to develop a financially viable project.”

“Our opinion is that this certainly fits into the character of Alamo Heights,” added Rick Archer of Overland Partners.

The targeted property is presently a mix of private and public land.

Community opposition to the project has been mounting, particularly in the form of an online petition drive and the distribution of “no high-rise” yard signs.

They cited several concerns, ranging from the project's potential impact on traffic and local schools, to what they believe are inconsistencies with the city's comprehensive plan and city codes.

“The biggest thing to me is this is the most important intersection in our city,” said restaurateur and former City Councilman Cappy Lawton.

“It (the proposed complex) has incredible density. It saddens to me think we're even considering this. I'd love to see redevelopment, but this is way above and beyond.”

Property owner Perry Donop was the lone voice in favor of the project Monday night. He said while he has no vested interest in Alamo Heights Gateway, he's interested in seeing commercial improvement on Broadway.

“The commercial district is deteriorating. We really need a significant project to stimulate this area,” he added.

“I've seen numerous adjustments by the developers but the project still doesn't complement our city's village-like charm,” she said.

Commissioner Jim Taylor commended the developers for revising the project's design in response to community debate.

But he said it's hard to get a better feel for the project's scale and scope without detailed street view drawings involving people and vehicles near the building, which the developers didn't have at the meeting.

The special-use permit request addresses multiple matters such as transfer of ownership of public property, replatting, final design approval by the city's Architectural Review Board, and issuance of a floodplain development permit.

Taylor said, given all these factors, parking space concerns and the plan's newly reduced numbers, he could not render a fully informed decision Monday night.

“With so many requested variances, I don't think I can adequately vote up or down on this,” he added.

The commission tasked Alamo Manhattan to return with an updated design, drawings with views of the complex from nearby neighborhood streets, more details on parking space and a service plan for the complex.

“It's part of the process,” Segrest said about returning with revisions and more details. “We're all about community involvement.”

The commission also voted to deny the developers' request to rezone the property from multi-family to business.